Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate rural nurses' experiences in providing nursing care to persons with HIV and AIDS. Rationale: Studies of nurses who care for persons with HIV or AIDS have been conducted primarily in urban settings. Subsequently, little information is available related to the experiences rural nurses have had caring for persons with HIV or AIDS. Are experiences of urban nurses' similar or different from the experiences of nurses in rural areas? This study provides a view of the impact caring for persons with HIV/AIDS has had upon rural nurses and gives insight into the complexity of issues related to caregiving experienced by rural nurses. With the anticipated increase in the numbers of rural cases of HIV/AIDS in the future, this study identifies topics for nursing basic education, continued education, and risk management related to caring for persons with HIV and AIDS. Method: The data analyzed for this study was a secondary analysis of qualitative data collected during a larger study of rural nurses that used descriptive correlation design, a demographic questionnaire, standardized instruments, mailed survey, and a modified Dillman survey method (Mullins, 2003). As part of the demographic data questionnaire, nurses were given an opportunity to respond to a statement that solicited any comments regarding nurse caregiving to persons with HIV/AIDS. In response to this statement, 76 nurses returned written comments. These comments comprise the qualitative data for this study. Lincoln?s and Guba's method of content analysis was used to analyze the nurses' written responses. Responses were read verbatim and those with similar content were grouped into categories. From these groupings, themes were identified and all nurses' comments were re-read to determine any overlapping or new themes. Results: The final themes that were identified included the following: Risk of Occupational Exposure, Intensity of Nurse Caregiving for Persons with HIV/AIDS, Lack of Concern about HIV, Confidentiality, Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS, Philosophy of Nursing and Nursing Care, and Need for Education. Rural nurses had cared for patients with HIV/AIDS and they were interested in telling their stories of the caregiving. Nurses revealed instances of caregiving that highlighted risk for transmission to the health care worker, lack of caring, and intense caregiving in which the nurse spent a lot of time in providing for the needs of the person with HIV/AIDS. Implications: With the anticipation of increased numbers of persons with HIV/AIDS in rural areas, nurses must be empowered clinically and intellectually to provide quality nursing care. At the same time nurses need to provide nursing care in a safe environment where appropriate personal protective equipment is available and used by the nurses. Efforts to assist nurses in caring for persons with HIV/AIDS must begin with educational preparation in schools of nursing, mentoring by more experienced nurses, and through the provision of continued education in the workplace.

<table><tr><td colspan="2" class="item-title">Rural Nurses' Experiences in Providing Care To Persons With HIV/AIDS</td></tr><tr class="item-sponsor"><td class="label">Conference Sponsor:</td><td class="value">Western Institute of Nursing</td></tr><tr class="item-year"><td class="label">Conference Year:</td><td class="value">2006</td></tr><tr class="item-author"><td class="label">Author:</td><td class="value">Mullins, Iris, PhD, RN</td></tr><tr class="item-institute"><td class="label">P.I. Institution Name:</td><td class="value">New Mexico State University</td></tr><tr class="item-author-title"><td class="label">Title:</td><td class="value">Assistant Professor</td></tr><tr class="item-address"><td class="label">Contact Address:</td><td class="value">5002 La Cueva Mine Trail, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, USA</td></tr><tr class="item-phone"><td class="label">Contact Telephone:</td><td class="value">505-646-2822</td></tr><tr class="item-email"><td class="label">Email:</td><td class="value">imullins@nmsu.edu</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="item-abstract">Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate rural nurses' experiences in providing nursing care to persons with HIV and AIDS. <br/>Rationale: Studies of nurses who care for persons with HIV or AIDS have been conducted primarily in urban settings. Subsequently, little information is available related to the experiences rural nurses have had caring for persons with HIV or AIDS. Are experiences of urban nurses' similar or different from the experiences of nurses in rural areas? This study provides a view of the impact caring for persons with HIV/AIDS has had upon rural nurses and gives insight into the complexity of issues related to caregiving experienced by rural nurses. With the anticipated increase in the numbers of rural cases of HIV/AIDS in the future, this study identifies topics for nursing basic education, continued education, and risk management related to caring for persons with HIV and AIDS. Method: The data analyzed for this study was a secondary analysis of qualitative data collected during a larger study of rural nurses that used descriptive correlation design, a demographic questionnaire, standardized instruments, mailed survey, and a modified Dillman survey method (Mullins, 2003). As part of the demographic data questionnaire, nurses were given an opportunity to respond to a statement that solicited any comments regarding nurse caregiving to persons with HIV/AIDS. In response to this statement, 76 nurses returned written comments. These comments comprise the qualitative data for this study. Lincoln?s and Guba's method of content analysis was used to analyze the nurses' written responses. Responses were read verbatim and those with similar content were grouped into categories. From these groupings, themes were identified and all nurses' comments were re-read to determine any overlapping or new themes. Results: The final themes that were identified included the following: Risk of Occupational Exposure, Intensity of Nurse Caregiving for Persons with HIV/AIDS, Lack of Concern about HIV, Confidentiality, Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS, Philosophy of Nursing and Nursing Care, and Need for Education. Rural nurses had cared for patients with HIV/AIDS and they were interested in telling their stories of the caregiving. Nurses revealed instances of caregiving that highlighted risk for transmission to the health care worker, lack of caring, and intense caregiving in which the nurse spent a lot of time in providing for the needs of the person with HIV/AIDS. Implications: With the anticipation of increased numbers of persons with HIV/AIDS in rural areas, nurses must be empowered clinically and intellectually to provide quality nursing care. At the same time nurses need to provide nursing care in a safe environment where appropriate personal protective equipment is available and used by the nurses. Efforts to assist nurses in caring for persons with HIV/AIDS must begin with educational preparation in schools of nursing, mentoring by more experienced nurses, and through the provision of continued education in the workplace.</td></tr></table>

en_GB

dc.date.available

2011-10-26T20:15:51Z

-

dc.date.issued

2011-10-17

en_GB

dc.date.accessioned

2011-10-26T20:15:51Z

-

dc.description.sponsorship

Western Institute of Nursing

en_GB

All Items in this repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.